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HANOI – Embracing the innovative trend of heritage gamification, Vietnam is finding new ways to showcase its rich cultural and historical legacies, significantly enhancing tourism development.
Visitors, particularly from the younger demographic, are increasingly drawn to interactive games during their heritage site tours. These engaging activities offer detailed information and vivid imagery about the sites, making the experience both educational and entertaining.
By using cutting-edge technology, these heritage sites are intricately recreated to boost visitors’ excitement and interaction with historical relics. For instance, tourists can simply log into an app and join a game that requires them to overcome 10 challenges tied to the ancient village of Đường Lâm, a well-known heritage site in Sơn Tây Town, about 44 km west of central Hà Nội.
The app directs tourists to various spots within the heritage site, providing historical insights and assigning missions related to each location’s unique attributes. Players answer questions and receive hints, deepening their exploration and understanding of the site.
Successful participants of these games walk away with a rich appreciation for Đường Lâm, recognized as Việt Nam’s first ancient village to earn the title of national historical and cultural heritage site in 2006. This blend of gaming and heritage not only educates but also revitalizes interest in the nation’s storied past.
Nestled in the heart of Vietnam, the village is famed for its majestic banyan trees, traditional communal houses, historic freshwater wells, lush rice fields, tranquil pagodas, and revered shrines. The village also takes pride in its traditional sweets like kẹo lạc and kẹo vừng, made from sugarcane molasses, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
Industry experts highlight gamification as a revolutionary approach to tourism, creating dynamic opportunities to showcase the country’s culture and history in an engaging and interactive manner.
Nguyễn Đăng Thạo, director of the Đường Lâm Village Management Board, told Đại Đoàn Kết (Great Unity) newspaper that heritage gamification has introduced a groundbreaking strategy to attract more visitors, especially younger ones, to discover and value the heritage site. This innovative method not only attracts visitors but also fosters a deeper connection with Vietnam’s rich cultural legacy.
Phạm Hải Quỳnh, director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, stated that integrating gamification into heritage sites in Việt Nam represents a pioneering approach for tourism advancement. This strategy also provides innovative opportunities to creatively recreate and highlight the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
Phạm Hải Quỳnh, director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, emphasized that the gamification of heritage sites in Việt Nam is a forward-thinking approach to tourism growth. This method also presents innovative opportunities to creatively showcase and celebrate the nation’s cultural and historical richness.
Tùng highlights that gamification enhances visitors’ understanding and appreciation of cultural values by turning heritage into engaging, interactive experiences. This approach revitalizes cultural sites, making them more accessible and appealing, particularly to the younger audience.
Tùng and his team have developed numerous heritage game tours, such as those at Đường Lâm Village and the Hùng Vương Museum, which have garnered popularity among both local and international tourists.
After downloading the heritage gamification app, participants embark on a quest to find codes hidden within the museum. They solve puzzles related to ancient artifacts discovered in the ancestral land, with each puzzle unlocking stories about the nation’s history, culture, and notable figures.
In Việt Nam, the concept of heritage gamification emerged over a decade ago with the television game show Hà Nội 36 Phố Phường (36 Ancient Streets in Hà Nội), which ingeniously blended entertainment and education. This pioneering program highlighted the vibrant images and fascinating stories of the 36 streets in Hà Nội’s Old Quarter, aiming not only to instill a sense of local cultural pride but also to enhance the public’s understanding of the capital’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Experts observed that this trend has grown and diversified over the years, providing a sustainable direction for the tourism industry while simultaneously aiding the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in the era of technology. Gamification offers a dynamic way to bring history to life, making it more engaging and accessible to a wider audience, particularly the younger generation. However, despite its benefits, the rapid expansion of heritage gamification has not been without challenges. One of the most significant issues raised by experts is the necessity of ensuring that the portrayal of cultural heritage remains accurate and respectful. They emphasize that while technology can enhance the experience and reach of cultural education, it is crucial to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the historical narratives being shared. This balance is essential to prevent the misrepresentation or trivialization of the rich cultural heritage that these initiatives aim to celebrate and preserve. As heritage gamification continues to evolve, it holds the promise of creating deeper connections between people and their cultural roots, fostering a greater appreciation for the past while leveraging the tools of the future.
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